While I enjoyed the writing, this book suffered from too many characters and not enough development, making it hard to stay immersed. Listening to the audiobook made it even more difficult to keep track of who was who, and I often felt confused which is vary rare for me as an avid audiobook reader.

The mystery itself was engaging, and I liked how the past and present connected, but the lack of character depth made it difficult to fully invest in the story. Overall, this was an “okay” listen—not bad, but not particularly memorable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book will draw you in from the first page. It is epic - full of original characters and unusual situations. As it moves along and unwinds like a ball of string, you begin to see connections to all kinds of characters and events. Everything is interconnected. The tension grows and grows, and there is lots of foreshadowing of things you hope will not come true. The ending is explosive. I could say something « spoiler » but I won’t. Suffice to say that the novel is wonderfully well-written, complex and twisted - lots of twisted people! I highly recommend this book to people who are interested in more than just a lightweight, formulaic novel. It will knock your socks off!

I bet this as a book is FANTASTIC. As an audiobook it was really hard for me to follow. There were a lot of characters and there wasn't a lot of time for them to develop the way that I hoped. The plot was interesting but it was really difficult to hold my attention span. If this book is re-recorded, I highly recommend dual narration.

Too Many Secrets, too Many Lies
This book is a tangled mess of murder, secrets, and lies spanning twenty years, set in a small Southern town that wants to forget its bloody past. But, of course, the past never stays buried.

I loved how the setting felt like a character itself—Bent Tree and Luxor aren’t just places; they are the story. The writing had that southern charm, the characters were messy and real, and the mystery was layered enough to keep me hooked, or confused lol. The audiobook even included an audio journal from a dad leaving voice notes to stay in his son’s life. *gut punch*

I have to give major props to the author for such a strong adult debut. The writing was sharp, with little clues tucked in and shorter chapters that kept the pacing up without losing depth. The themes about love and the choices we make were interesting, the exploration of the US South’s social history was rich and entertaining.

And then—the ending. Another tragedy, another senseless death, and this one broke me. I don't feel it was deserved, and it left me sitting there, staring into space for a bit. Instead of taking away from the book, I think it added the realism it needed. Nothing more real than death.

That said, this book is packed. Like, stuffed. There are too many characters, a crazy amount of events, too many times I had to stop and go “wait, who is this again?” It got a little overwhelming, and I’m sure I missed some things. I wish I had a physical copy of the book, it would have made it easier to go back when I got confused. Still, the slow-burn mystery kept me flipping pages (or, well, hitting "next" on the audiobook). If you like gritty small-town thrillers with layered storytelling, this one’s worth picking up.

*Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

All I can say is WOW! This story was wonderful, fabulous all the things. This was my first exposure to a novel by Court Stevens, but you can bet I will be reading the rest of her back list. I can't wait until June 3rd when I can get a physical copy and reread it. Court Stevens takes us to Kentucky and gives us stories intertwined between both tracks. The narrators were great! The story starts out with a murder, so you are immediately hooked. She weaves the story through past and present and multiple characters that you will fall in love with. All the way to the end she kept me guessing with several of the stories and man, I did not see one of those coming. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audible for an advanced copy of this story. I will be thinking about this one for awhile!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens (narrated by Marin Ireland) is a heartwarming story that shows how misdirection, miscommunication and secrets cause you to make decisions that define your future.

I particularly enjoyed Marin Ireland's narration in the audiobook version, and I highly recommend this format.

This is an enjoyable well-written story, with unexpected twists, turns and misdirections.

Themes include the strength of familial and romantic love, and the lengths we will occasionally go to protect our animal friends, even in the middle of tragic circumstances.

Interesting story that does a great job describing the almost smothering closeness of small towns where others hold the keys to your most important secrets.

4.5 rounded up

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for audio review copy*

The ending raised my rating up because I felt completely flabbergasted by it. I am so motivated to read a book that not only showcases the inner workings of multiple characters, but also shows that even the best actions can have unknown consequences. The writing and Marin Ireland's narration felt like a warm hug that was detailing a horrific crime scene. If this is any indication of what the author's adult works will be like I shall patiently look forward to future works.

Didn't work for me

I listened to the audiobook. I just couldn't get into it. The story, about a town with poor people often taken advantage by a group of wealthy people should have kept me interested, but I really didn't like anyone in the book. I found myself drifting off when listening to it and not caring enough to rewind. I did like the ending. I am glad others liked this, but it was just too slow for me.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the narrator did a wonderful job on this book! She covers all the characters seamlessly and is clear and concise. The story held my attention throughout and had so many twists and turns it made my head spin! Every time I felt like I finally had a grip on where it was headed, the story would flip completely and have me left with my mouth hanging open. I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries spanning 20+ years with a love story at the heart of it.

Thanks to Harper Muse & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you like Marin Ireland, this is a great listen. I do, and that's what had me sticking with this book.

Picture it: Shithole, Kentucky, present day (aka Luxor). Across the river, a classier town that caters to hunting tourists, specifically a lodge that's been enriching its revenue streams by holding illegal weapons auctions for the past several years. Our heroine, Anna, has just lost her job (detention monitor? That's a job? OK), which is perfect timing considering her mom, Star, has just been diagnosed with lung cancer and doesn't have insurance. Her ex-fiancé, Jack Higgins (is this a hat tip to the thriller author?), works at the hunting lodge across the river, but there's no place else to get a decent job quickly. Anna working there quickly leads to a rekindling of her romance with Jack, which ended abruptly, but don't go thinking this is a romance novel: it's gritty as hell. Before the book is over, Anna's world has been turned upside down as she learns that everything about her early life has been kept from her. This is a repeating theme, as the numerous characters in this novel seem adept at keeping secrets and fomenting lies to aid in the destruction of those around them (the better to control them).

This book suffers from being 20 lbs of sausage in a 10 lb casing: there is just too much happening. Too many characters, too many crimes, too many secrets to the point that it's difficult to keep anything straight, and I'm sure I missed important stuff. <spoiler>The parts about Jack's son, which I guess is supposed to refer back to the TWs about school gun violence? are kinda glurge-y, as are the chapters where Jack records voice notes for the kid he's never met</spoiler>

At the end, when all is said and done, it starts to feel a little preachy. Stevens sort of explains away a lot of bad and even illegal behavior. She talks a lot about kinds of love and how they make people behave. I do not need anyone's philosophical hot takes on love, thanks. You wrote a decent, crimey, gritty novel; don't ruin it.

A quick check of the author's website reveals she is a public speaker who seeks to empower; I think that's the culprit here. Also: she left the little pages filled with a variation of ipso lorum etc. and stock photos. Gurrrl
Sorry, my pessimism is getting in the way.

3 stars

Tell Me Something Good is a mystery thriller that keeps readers engaged with its twisty suspenseful storyline. The story begins with suspense, drawing the reader into a plot filled with secrets, deception, and unexpected turns.
While the novel delivers on suspense, the characters could have been developed deeper to create a stronger emotional connection. Several storylines felt like they were unfinished, or we were missing too much background.
However, the twists and suspense keep the tension high, making it an overall enjoyable read.
Fans of fast-paced thrillers will appreciate the gripping storyline, even if they wish for a bit more depth in character development.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for my ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio- ARC in exchange for my honest review. I found this book really touching and would highly recommend it.

This reminded me of a Fredrik Backman book in the way it gave me all the feels. Part of the reason could be that they all have the same narrator, Marin Ireland, who is always wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens.

The Narrator, Marin Ireland, did a great job voicing these characters. I felt she did well with her pitch and expressions.

The author, Court Stevens, did a great job providing us a story between these characters. I think there are a lot of characters that make it a little difficult to keep up with and connect with. Overall, the mystery keeps your interest.

I loved this book. Perhaps because Marin Ireland narrated the audio, it felt very similar to Fredrik Backman in some ways. However, the old mystery of the Choir Girls being murdered and posed, and the rumors that still circulate, took this in a dark direction that felt a lot more dangerous. There were a lot of diabolical actions, truly heartless and vile, and twists that just spin the brain and make the reader stop and have to consider who is related to whom and how before you get a full picture. It's confusing, but it's also satisfying.

It's a slow burn that picks up speed in the end, and I did figure out some aspects of the twist, but not entirely. This is a well-done story, with good character development, and a light feeling of peril throughout. I'd recommend this whole-heartedly to most readers.

The comparisons to Beartown drew me to this ARC, and it did not disappoint! With rich character and setting development, the plot unfolds almost effortlessly and draws the reader into the small communities on the border of Kentucky and Illinois. Once the sight of a horrific multiple murder scene, but also the destination of a yearly hunting festival at a high end resort, the rich and the poor seem intertwined and yet separate, but after twenty years, the unsolved brutal murders no longer haunt the region. Soon, an accidental death on the eve of the annual hunt, bring questions to the surface and draw focus on underlying crimes of great importance. Fast paced and riveting, comparisons to Backman's Beartown are deserved, but this one is a bit darker throughout.

I wanted to enjoy this book and although the narration is excellent, there are too many characters wrapped up in a convoluted plot that became increasingly difficult to follow. At first I played back the chapters, but then realized I had switched two characters and simply couldn't sort them out. Perhaps this book is best read in print. The story line is original and the pace is good. I wished the author had tightened up the character development.

Too many characters made it difficult for me to keep up with or care about what was happening. This might be easier to follow in print rather than on audio.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy of this book! For the first but I was very engaged and interested but as time went on I realized that I had merged the two female characters into one. I don’t know if this is due to the book itself or the narrator. I plan to revisit this book in print form to give it another chance.

I LOVE Marin Ireland so-her narration is on point on any project she takes on. This was a great book, sad, dark and tragic but done in such a way that leaves you wanting to keep listening. Thanks for this ALC!

Thank you to Harper Muse Audio Books for the ARC!

Tell Me Something Good is a novel that doesn’t just tell a story it immerses you in a world so rich and layered that you feel like you’re uncovering a long-buried truth alongside the characters. I wasn’t prepared for the sheer depth of this book, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Court Stevens masterfully weaves multiple storylines together, creating an intricate mystery that keeps you chasing the truth even as the narrative unfolds in unexpected ways. The authorial intrusion—something I don’t often encounter was done so thoughtfully that it enhanced the experience rather than pulling me out of it. Every detail, every revelation, and every carefully placed thread wove itself together into an ending that was both devastating and satisfying.

And I have to mention the narration one particular character’s voice had me fully convinced Rick Grimes was giving a monologue to Carl about the dangers of this world. The sheer intensity, the gravelly Southern drawl, the weight of every word? Chef’s kiss. If you know, you know.

This isn’t just a thriller. It’s a meditation on truth, class divides, and the silent ripples of the past that refuse to stay buried. The pacing is relentless, the atmosphere haunting, and the characters unforgettable. It left me in awe of Stevens’s ability to tell a story with such emotional weight and complexity.

This is a must-read if you love literary mysteries that demand your full attention and reward you with a breathtaking conclusion.